In August 2012, the country had attracted foreign investment worth USD 2.26 billion.

During the April-August period of 2013-14 fiscal, FDI has grown by a meager 4 per cent to USD 8.46 billion, from USD 8.16 billion in the first five months of 2012-13, a senior official in the Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion (DIPP) told PTI.

According to industry experts there is a need to improve business environment in the country.

"There is a need to further improve the business environment. Reforms in the recent past are welcome, but more needs to be done in order to build foreign investors confidence," Head of Tax and expert on FDI with corporate law firm Amarchand & Mangaldas Krishan Malhotra said.

The sectors that helped in registering the hike during the five months include services (USD 1.19 billion), pharma (USD 1.07 billion), automobile (USD 661 million) and construction (USD 592 million).

The maximum FDI during the period came from Singapore (USD 2.37 billion), followed by Mauritius (USD 2.13 billion), the Netherlands (USD 980 million), Germany (USD 529 million), and the US (USD 475 million).

The DIPP official said the recent steps announced by the government will help improve the investment climate in the country and push up FDI inflows.

"The government has also started exercise in allowing FDI in railways sector besides liberalising FDI norms for construction and housing sector. The aim is to boost FDI inflows," the official added.